Sounds of laughter echoed in his mind. The warm, inviting sun, the sound of seagulls and the roar of the waves, the feeling of each grain of sand as he stood, watching her. His mother. Smiling, holding her arms out to him, as he gazed upon her adoringly. The burning sand as his feet beat upon it, running straight into those outstretched arms. A warm, sandy embrace between mother and son. The rays of the sun beat down on him, as she lifted him into the air, holding down her straw hat in the breeze, and planting a sweet kiss on his cheek.

Edward opened his eyes. The house was entirely silent, save for the rustle of the tree leaves from outside his open door. Sitting up in bed, Edward ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his eyes, wiping away a tear in the process. Sleep wasn't a necessity for him, but he occasionally enjoyed the experience. Not today.

You up? We're leaving in five!

He didn't hear the words exactly, they played in his mind. As it did so, he visualised a looping design behind his eyes, the playful patterns of his sister, Alice. Dragging himself to his feet, despite no real fatigue, he slipped on his trainers and sped downstairs. Alice was waiting, her playful body language spilling into the sleek hallway as she hung on her boyfriend, Jasper's, shoulder. Emmet stood beside his own girlfriend, whose arms were folded, foot tapping impatiently on the floor, as her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders.

Finally.

Rosalie's thoughts had a more linear pattern, organised yet elegant. In his mind they flowed in delicate shades of pink and blue, with the occasional spike of irritation and arrogance. Edward rolled his eyes, not hiding that he'd obviously heard her thoughts. Without a sound, they made their way to Rosalie's Mercedes. Edward sat in the back, Alice comfortably wedged between him and Jasper. Rosalie chattered away with Emmet in the front, raindrops occasionally smacking the windshield.

What's up? You okay?

Edward made quick eye contact with his sister and looked up and down subtly. Alice nodded and turned out the window. He didn't feel like sharing his dream right now, or perhaps ever. His mother's precious memory would live on in him. He turned to the window as well, slowly blinking away any tears.


When they arrived at school, the thoughts of students were overwhelming. This wasn't particularly strange except it was much louder, and the chatter was noticed by all five in the car.

"What's going on?" Emmet asked aloud.

Edward was silent a moment before he answered. "New girl."

"But Alice didn't say anything."

"Uh, I didn't know whose decisions to watch? My visions are pretty random otherwise."

The group made their ways out of the car, moving somewhat slower than usual, Emmet faking a stumble as he made his way out. Edward and Jasper snickered in an attempt to further support the scene, and a few nearby students laughed too. Just another random attempt to humanise themselves.

As they trudged through the car park, students bustling and pushing past, while others lingered around, the thoughts changed from wonder to certainty and a new kind of curiosity. In one thought, a bright red truck features in the foreground, and in another, long brown hair mostly obscured the pale profile of a girl. As the group settled under a shelter by the school entrance, they turned and watched the rest of the students arriving. Bored already, Rosalie rolled her eyes, grabbed Emmet's hand and went inside, while Alice, Jasper and Edward stayed by the front. Jasper twitched.

"It's okay Jasper. It's all okay." Edward searched Alice's mind as she comforted her partner, and relaxed his shoulders. Student's continued to filter passed them, and Jasper held his ground.

"See? You're not gonna hurt anybody." She whispered in his ear. Jasper smiled as he put his arm around Alice. Edward looked away. He spotted the truck in the distance and that's when he smelled it. A beautiful scent, one he felt in his chest, one he wanted to know the source of.

Alice placed a hand on his shoulder suddenly. "Edward!"

He turned to Alice, and stood up properly, not realising his stance had become gnat of a creature about to pounce. The feeling of relaxation flowed through Edward as Jasper focused his attention on him. The three said nothing more and entered the school.


The next time Edward smelled it, it was in the cafeteria.

The group had taken their usual spot by the window. As usual, the group did what they could to appear human, never staying still for too long, always shifting in their seats. Rosalie pushed a tuna salad around, while Emmet actually devoured a burger. Edward shook his head at him, grinning as he twisted an apple in his hands. Somehow the guy never properly gave up human food. The thought of it made Edward nauseous but Emmet didn't appear to have a care. Alice and Jasper were conversing quietly, trash strewn upon their trays strategically. Aside from that, the table was mostly silent, and Edward had little to do aside from listen to the thoughts surrounding him.

… Ugh, I have that stupid test next period… Why didn't I study?!...

… Ohmygod we have to go shopping! Your wardrobe is asbolite trash…

… Hey, hey- she's coming. Look!...

…..

Edward sat up a little straighter. He didn't really have much interest in this new kid, but the second they supposedly walked in, that scent was back. As well as a very loud silence. Edward's eyebrows furrowed in frustration, the burn in his throat temporarily forgotten. There was a voice there, a stream of thoughts- coloured in muted blues and green, swaying in a sort of scalloped pattern. But aside from that there was no movement, no sound. A tumbleweed could have blown past and it would have fit the scene in his mind perfectly.

"I can't read her mind." He murmured. All four heads at the table turned to Edward, saying nothing. "The new girl. I can kinda see her mind but it's just… silent."

"Maybe she's just an airhead."

"Like you, Rose?" Jasper chimed back. The group chuckled in unison, aside from Rosalie, who went back to shoving her salad around. Edward shook his head again, and tuned himself back into the thoughts of the room. With their direction and perception of her face, he scanned it for this new girl. He stopped when he saw her, and the smell smacked into him at the same time, stronger than ever. She was making her way over to them. Fuck, she was coming over and she was the source of this scent. Fuck, she was coming over, she was going to talk to them-

And then she walked right past, her scent hovering in the air as she brushed by and sat at the only empty table in the cafeteria. Edward's head involuntarily followed her movement, and he watched, as she placed down a barely filled tray and pulled out a book from her bag, immediately burying her nose in it. Suddenly she met Edward's eyes as if she sensed someone watching her. She lowered her book slightly, and Edward turned back around immediately. He didn't look back for the rest of lunch, and ran out of the school when the bell rang.


The bell of the convenience store rang loudly as Edward stepped out of it. Unwrapping a box of cigarettes, he put one to his lips and lit up. He had walked around town until it was late, long past the end of school, but he didn't want to go home. Sometimes he just wanted to be alone, outside in the human world. He needed it. He needed to feel a little human. Not a monster, who wanted to devour that new girl the moment he smelled her, smelled her blood. He took another drag of his cigarette to push the thought away.

Small feet fell into step beside him and his mind was filled with that playful stream of loops. He didn't bother asking how she found him.

"She's lovely, you know," Alice chimed, almost skipping with her pixie-like movements. As someone passed them, she exaggerated her breaths before returning to normal. "The new girl, Isabella."

"She likes Bella." Edward corrected.

"How would you know? You can't read her mind."

"No but I could see her irritation from their eyes when everyone called her Isabella anyway."

The two kept moving in silence until Alice spoke up again.

"Why'd you go? You would have liked her. She's witty."

"We shouldn't get close to too many humans."

"Oh, liven up! Nothing wrong with a friend here and there."

"Until you outlive them…" Edward halted. The smell. It was back. Alice's eyes moved to the window of a local diner, where a cop car was parked outside, and a brunette sat with an officer inside.

"She's the daughter of Chief Swan. That looks like her, there." Alice pointed. Edward's eyes slowly met where she was pointing to, and he held back a growl, eyes turning dark. Realisation dawned on Alice's, and she grabbed his arm. Looking quickly left and right, she sped down a side street towards the forest, dragging Edward with her. When they stopped she pushed him down to the ground, momentarily stunning him as his eyes returned to normal, the earthy smell of damp leaves replacing the enticing scent of Bella Swan's blood.

"That's why."


AN: Hi! Sorry if this part has any mistakes! I'm writing on Google Docs and transferring it over, I've been double checking stuff but I'm long-term sick so please point them out if you notice anything too annoying! I'm not 100% sure where I want this story to go, I just miss writing and thought this might be a good way of getting back into it. I'll try and post on some sort of schedule if I can!